Clothes rack



u. J. CORMIER 2,916,160

CLOTHES RACK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 8, 1959 Filed Jan. 31, 1958 Ulysses J. Cormier INVENTOR.

Dec. 8, 1959 Filed Jan. 31, 1958 u. J. CORMIER 2,916,160

CLOTHES RACK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig? I 1/06 /02 WE /04 IL.

Fig. 3

WW I mask l V I 9 BY wag/a2... I (M AW United States Patent CLOTHES RACK Ulysses J. Cormier, Leominster, Mass. Application January 31, 1958, Serial No. 712,478

' 8 Claims. Cl. 211-105 1 This invention relates generally to supports for accommodating clothing or the like, and more particularly to a clothes rack.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a clothes rack which may be quickly and readily set up within a house or home, and be either detachably-connected to the top of a door or window, or permanently fastened to a wall or the like. It may also be set up outside a house by being connected to a house, porch, post, or the like. Another object of this invention is to provide a device of. the character'described wherein the rack may be extended for an in use position and which may be retracted so as to take up less room when not in use.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a device of the character described wherein the rack is pivotally and slidably connected to its supporting bracket so as to be adjustable thereon.

. An even further object of this invention is to provide adevice of the character described wherein locking means are-provided between the rack and the supporting bracket, so that the rack may be locked into any desired vertically-selected and angularly adjusted position.

A still further object of this invention is to produce a-simple and inexpensive device and yet one which is extremely effective for the purpose for'which it is designed. I

This invention contemplates the use of a vertical member for supporting the end links of a lazy tongs which is connected thereto. The upper link of the lazy tong would be pivotally connected to the vertical member, while-the lower link would be slidably connected so that the lazy'tong may be extended and retracted. Transverse rods are fixed in the lazy tongs and are spaced from each. other and held fixedly in position by means of spacers, which extend longitudinally of the lazy tongs. Strands of cords are engaged between the respective rods to provide clothes accommodating portions to the device. A bracket is connected to the vertical member and rotatably receives a vertical shaftwhich has a supporting bracket on the upper end thereof, which may be attached to ,a wall or the like. An adjustable collar is provided on. the shaft so that the bracket attached to the vertical member rests thereupon, and by vertical adjustment of the collar, the position of the vertical member may also beadjusted, The collar has a notch formed in the upper end thereof, which accommodates the pin extending downwardly from the bracket, and thus locks the vertical member in the proper or desired angular position with relation to the vertical shaft.

' These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like ice illustrating the present invention, showing the clothes rack in its extended position;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the device illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevational view similar to Figure 2, with the lazy tongs in the retracted position;

Figure 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the plane defined by reference line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the plane defined by reference line 55 of Figure 3, illustrating details of construction thereof;

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the end transverse bar connected to the lazy tongs illustrating the details of construction thereof;

Figure 7 is a perspective exploded view illustrating the means for locking the vertical member in vertical adjusted position as well as its angularly adjusted position; and

Figure 8 is a detail perspective view of one end of a support plate showing the manner in which one of a pair of diagonal support rods is removably secured at one end thereto.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the lazy tongs which are a part of the present invention, having clothes accommodating means or frame 12 afiixed thereto. The numeral 14 designates the support portion of the clothes rack used to support this clothes rack either on the upper portion of a door, or on a wall or the like.

The lazy tongs 10, is constructed of upper and lower outside links 16 and 18 respectively which are pivotally connected as at 20. Intermediate links 22 and 24 are connected to the ends of upper and lower links 16 and 18 at pivotal connections 20 and 26 respectively. It is to be noted that the pivotal connection 20 mentioned herein is similar to the pivotal connection which fastens the outer ends of upper and lower links 16 and 18 together. A nut and bolt 28 and 30 respectively extend through the medial portions of links 22 and 24, and thus pivotally connect these links to each other. Inside links 32 and 34 are connected to intermediate links 24 and 22 respectively, as at pivotal connections 20 and 26 respectively. The medial portions of links 32 and 34 are pivotally connected together by means of a bolt 28 and nut 30. At each of the lower pivotal link connections, a hollow rod 36 constituting the inner end of each of frames 12 passes transversely therethrough, and is affixed thereto by any suitable means such as by washers encircling the rods and aflixed thereto, while being disposed on either side of the two connecting links so as to hold them in place. The particular type of pivotal connection is not shown, since a great number of suitable connections will be thought of by the skilled artisan. Rod sections 38, constituting the outer end of each of frames 12, are mounted so as to be adjacent and parallel one of the rods 36, and yet spaced from the other rods 36. The arrangement is such that when the lazy tongs are in the extended position, all of the rods will be in the same plane. Spacer bars 40 are connected be tween the hollow rods 36 and the rod sections 38, and extend longitudinally of the lazy tongs. A plurality of these spacer bars 40 are connected along the length of the respective bars and bar sections.

The pivotal connections 20 are formed by means of a threaded shank 42 which is passed through aligned open ings 44 and 46 respectively formed in the outer ends of outer links 16 and 18 respectively. Washers 48 are then passed about the shank 42 while contacting either side of the links 16 and 18. An angle rod 51 has an internally threaded sleeve 54 projecting from the upper end, and in- 3 termediate portion 50, and a shank 56 projecting from the lower end in the opposite direction from sleeve 54. A bore 52 is formed through the back of sleeve 54, so that the sleeves 54 may be engaged over the shank 42, and in abutting relation to the washers 48. Then, nuts 58'are tightened up on the threaded shank 42, so as to lock the angle rods 51 firmly in place. The lower extending shank 56 are threaded on their outer ends and are threadedly accommodated in the inner ends of rod sections 38 which are threaded as at 60. Bores 62 are formed through the shanks 56, and other bores 64 are formed through the inner ends of rod sections 38, and when rod sections 38 are threaded onto the shanks 56, the bores 62 and 64 may be aligned, and a pin inserted therein, so as to positively lock the angle rods 51 to the rod sections 38. It may thus be seen, that the rod sections 38 are pivotally connected by means of angle rods 51, to the upper joints between adjacent links of the lazy tongs 10.

A plurality of vertical openings are formed along the length of rod sections 38 and rods 36, so as to accom modate strands of cord 68. These openings are designated as numeral 66 in the drawings. As may be seen in Figure l, a single length of cord may be used for each of the clothes rack sections which are formed between each respective rod 36 and rod sections 38. A single length of cord 68 may be threaded through the openings 66, so as to form a plurality of the strands 68 upon which the clothing will be accommodated.

The lazy tongs are connected to a vertical member 70. The free end of link 34 is pivotally connected to the upper end of vertical support member 70 by means of a bolt and nut 73. The free end of link 32 is adapted to be slidably connected to the vertical support member 70. The ends of link 32 are connected to plates 72 between which a roller 74 is rotatably mounted. The vertical support member 70 is disposed between the plates 72, the link 32 and the rotatable wheel 74, so that, in effect, the link 32 is vertically slidably mounted upon the vertical support member 70.

A bar 76 projects outwardly from the lower end of vertical support member 70, and has a resilient cushion 78 on the outer end thereof, which is used to abut against a supporting surface upon which the clothes rack is to be supported. Furthermore, the bar 76 serves to act as a lower limiting stop for the rotatable wheel 74.

A plate 80 is connected to the upper end of vertical support member 78, along the rearward surface thereof. To this plate is connected a substantially U-shaped bracket 82, having a bight portion 84, and upper and lower legs 86 having aligned openings formed vertically therethrough, which serves to accommodate a vertical shaft 88. A closed looped mounting hook 90 is connected to bight portion 84 of U-shaped support bracket 82, and is covered with a suitable soft material 92 so as to prevent its marring of doors 94 to which it may be attached. Thus, the loop 91) may be engaged about the upper edge of a door 94, whereupon the rod 76 will extend rearwardly and cushion 78 will engage the door 94 so as to hold the shaft 88 and vertical member 70 in their proper vertical positions. In this manner, the clothes rack may be detachably fastened to a door.

However, if a permanent attachment is desired, an angle bracket 96 connected to the upper end of vertical shaft 88, may be afiixed to a wall or some suitable sup porting surface. Then, the lazy tongs 10, would be supported by shaft 88, to which it is attached by means of support bracket 82. A collar 93 is disposed about the shaft 88, and has a set screw 1% which may be used to lock the collar 98 in any desired angular position about the shaft 88. A positioning flange 102 is located on the opposite side of the collar 98 from the setscrew 100' and extends outwardly therefrom, so as to indicate a position approximately 180 opposite that of the lazy tongs,

so that when the collar 98 is adjusted, the position of the lazy tongs in angular relation to the shaft 88 may be determined therefrom. A notch 104 is formed in the upper surface of the collar 98, and a pin 106 depends downwardly from leg 86 of support bracket 82, and when the pin 106 is engaged in this notch 104, the lazy tongs is locked and thus prevented from angular rotation about shaft 88. When the setscrew 100 is loosened the collar 98 may be slidably and vertically adjusted on the shaft 88, to determine the proper vertical height of the lazy tongs which is desired.

A pair of brace members 108 are detachably connected between the intersection of links 32 and 34, and the plate a spaced distance from the lazy tongs, so as to add lateral support between the plate 80 and the lazy tongs 10 when the latter is in the extended position shown in Figures 1 and 2. Further, it will be noted that the brace members 108 also serve to positively retain the lazy tongs in the extended position.

In use, as was previously mentioned, the permanent bracket 96 may be used, or the closed looped mounting hook may be used atop a door or the like. Then, when it is desired to open up the lazy tongs, it is merely necessary to grab the outer end rod sections 38 of the device and pull outwardly thereon until the lazy tongs is in its fully extended position as illustrated in Figure 2.

When in the extended position, the clothes accommodating frames 12 on the lazy tongs 10 are in a substantially horizontal position and it will be noted, with particular attention directed to Figure 2 of the drawings, that when clothes are hung on the outer portions of the frames 12 the downward force of the weight of the clothes on the pivotal connections 20 will tend to pivot the links 32 and 22 in a clockwise direction about the pivotal connections 28 to maintain the lazy tongs 10 in the extended position however, the diagonal braces 108 may be used to ensure that lazy tongs 10 will be maintained in an extended position regardless of how clothes or other articles are hung thereon.

It may thus be seen that there is herein shown and described a new and improved type of clothes rack which may be conveniently connected in a home or an apartment and retained in an extended position by the weight of the clothes placed thereon.

Each end of the plate 80 is provided with a vertical keyhole slot 110 and the ends of the brace members 108 adjacent plate 80 have attached thereto by means of fasteners 112 suitable slides 114 which are removably and slidably secured in the corresponding slot 110, see Figures 4 and 8. Thus, the slides 114 will slide from an upper position in the slots 110 to a lower position therein upon the extension of the lazy tongs 10'to retain them in an extended position and also to brace the free end thereof against lateral movement relative to the plate 80.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and de-' scribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed. i

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A clothes rack comprising a lazy tongs having a plurality of adjoining pairs of crossed links with the links of each pair pivotally connected to each other at the mid-portions thereof and with the ends of said pairs of links being pivotally connected to the adjacent ends of the adjoining pair of links, a vertical support member, one end pair of links of said lazy tongs having a free end of one of its links pivotally mounted upon said vertical support member and the corresponding end of its other link slidably mounted on said vertical support memher, a plurality of clothes accommodating frames with one of said frames secured to each pair of said pairs of links, and with one end of each of said frames pivotally secured to an end of one link in each of said pairs of links, and the other end of said frame pivotally secured to the other end of the same link.

2. The combination of claim 1 including a vertical shaft, a slide slidably mounted on said shaft, means for pivotally mounting said vertical support member on said slide and means on said shaft for removably securing the latter to the upper end of a door.

3. The combination of claim 2 including means securing said support in position on said shaft.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said frames comprises a hollow inner end rod journaled transversely through the lower end of a link of each pair of links, and a transverse outer and rod section having an ofiset midportion journaled and secured; transversely through the upper end of the same link, with a plurality of spacer bars fixedly secured between said inner rod and said outer rod sections.

5. The combination of claim 4 including cord strands connected between said inner rod and said outer rod sections.

6. The combination of claim 1 including a vertical shaft, a slide slidably mounted on said shaft, means for pivotally mounting said vertical support member on said slide and means on said shaft for removably securing the latter to the upper end of a door including an angle .6 bracket secured to the top of said vertical shaft adapted to be secured to a vertical supporting surface.

7. The combination of claim 1 including at least one angle brace detachably connected between said lazy tongs intermediate the ends thereof and said vertical support member a spaced distance laterally of said tongs.

8. A clothes rack comprising a lazy tongs having at least one pair of crossed links with the links of each pair pivotally connected to each other at the midportion thereof, a vertical support member, a free end of one link of said lazy tongs pivotally mounted upon said vertical support member and the corresponding end of its other link slidably mounted on said vertical support mounting therebelow, a clothes accommodating frame, one end of said frame pivotally secured to said other link adjacent said support and the other end of said frame pivotally secured to the other end of the same link whereby clothes hung on the frame adjacent said other end of said frame will tend to lower the adjacent end of said other link and maintain the lazy tongs in an extended position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 526,450 Leach Sept. 25, 1894 918,000 Burdick Apr 13, 1909 1,224,324 Roberts May 1, 1917 1,249,643 Loflin Dec. 11, 1917 1,940,054 Herrold Dec. 19, 1933 1,994,897 Owen Mar. 19, 1935 

